Reuse and recycling, or degrowth economics

“Only an economic/financial system aimed at minimizing resource consumption and waste production, which reduces waste, increases the lifespan of objects and recycles the raw materials contained in discarded ones, uses technological innovations to minimize the environmental impact of production processes and not to increase productivity, develops self-production of goods, short supply chains, non-mercantile exchanges to the maximum, in a word, only a degrowth economy has a potential for a future that can reverse the self-destructive trend inherent in the current use of rationality for an irrational end.”

WHAT IT IS.

It is a voluntary step toward an equitable, participatory and ecologically sustainable society. Not to be confused with unintended economic contraction.

WHY.

Because economic growth, as measured by the increase in GDP, leads to increased production, consumption and investment, thus to increased use of materials, energy and land.
Because production and consumption cannot grow indefinitely. There is a limit, beyond which irreparable damage is caused to the environment and future generations,
Because there is growing evidence that growth in production and consumption is socially unsustainable and uneconomic: the costs outweigh the benefits.
Because if we do not reverse course and regain a “right fit,” an uncontrollable economic decline will be triggered, with a very serious social impact, especially for the poorest.

OUR REALITY

Our work reality by its very nature corresponds exactly to the work activity advocated by the degrowth movement, in that it is based on the recovery of goods discarded by others and stands in absolute opposition to the economic policy of classical companies, where productivity, consumption, wealth, exploitation of the worker, competitiveness, and waste of resources are favored.

THE 5 R POLICY

For decades our reality has been carrying out the policy of the 5 R’s outlined by Gesualdi, namely:

REDUCE

REUSE

REPAIR

RECYCLE

SLOW DOWN